Preg Fashion
I’ve been having a bit of a fashion dilemma lately.
My bump looks more like I ate a foot-long (on NON gluten-free bread haha) and maybe a few donuts. People may wonder if there might be a baby in there, but it definitely isn’t to the point where it’s obvious.
In this in betweener limbo phase, I’ve been relying on dresses:
(lots
and lots
and lots of dresses)
and flowy, or Empire-waist shirts.
A recent purchase is courtesy of Meghann and Emily, who both have these athletic tanks from Target:
Emily is with jellybean (actually it’s the size of a papaya right now!) and Meghann is non-pregger and the tank looks equally amazing on both of them.
I just don’t feel as comfortable in my more form-fitting clothes right now (especially my lululemon Cool Racerbacks and Power Y tanks that I wear almost everyday to work), and am so glad I found this book for pregnancy style tips:
I was browsing through it whilst eating an entire chocolate bar in Vosges in Las Vegas, and as soon as we got back to the hotel, I downloaded it on my Kindle.
INCREDIBLE advice on how to dress up your bump in all different phases of pregnancy. It’s written in a fun and sassy demeanor, has fun pictures and I’ve been enjoying (and appreciating!) the tips so much.
Regarding my limbo phase, the book suggests sticking to baggier and loose-fitting options until my bump is 100% obvious –they say around 19 weeks but the rate I’m going it may be sooner 😉
What are your tips for dressing during pregnancy, especially during the beginning of the second trimester?
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
-Buy classic clothes that you’ll be able to wear again later. The dresses have been key because all of my recent dress purchases will allow me to grow and still be in style next year
-Splurge a little on accessories. You don’t need to worry about amazing jewelry (necklaces, bangles, cuffs, earrings) or purses not fitting 😉
-If you feel great, you look great. I’m focusing on clothes that make me feel good –instead of uncomfortable- and rolling from there.
[Confession: I haven’t worn a swimsuit since my belly started poking out a little.]
Off to work- see ya later today with a lasagna recipe 🙂
xoxo
Gina
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ahh I LOVE them! you look hot in anything! im so down with the dresses!
Good stuff! Also a good thing you live in a warm climate and it is summer — much easier to deal with the dresses!
that’s very true! it’s going to be the summer uniform 🙂
You are so cute! I am obsessed with your dress you are wearing under that blazer!!
thank you! it’s j crew but i got it at buffalo exchange 🙂
Rock the bikini after you really start showing! Super confident and fun. If I were pregnant I’d stick with basic dresses, too, since if you plan on having more than one you’ll gets tons of cute mileage out of them.
I think dresses are where it’s at 🙂
You always look so cute and put together, I have no doubts you will continue being that way throughout your pregnancy!
Dresses are definitely my go to! I always feel much more comfortable in more tight clothing than loose. On me….the loose clothing made me REALLY look like I had, had too many cookies vs. was pregnant. Plus the tighter clothing always makes me feel like my bump is getting more support.
oh and Target maternity is my savior! A lot of the other spots are either really expensive or they only sell online! I also like motherhood maternity
It may not seem like it on a day to day basis, but this phase is so short-lived that its really a non-issue. I found it less stressful to just roll with what I had until that cute second trimester bump shows up. That’s the best time, you are obviously pregnant to the world, but not uncomfortably large.
The dresses have been doing an amazing job, because it still doesn’t look like you’re pregnant at all!
Empire waist and flowy shirts were great for the in-between stage (paired with skinny jeans and leggings, stuff that makes it apparent you still have legs), now those still work but form-fitting shirts show off the cute bump now, so I like those with maternity jeans or dresses, or skirts with form-fitting shirts.
You’ll wear the dresses after your pregnancy too. and I agree with rocking the bikini!
By the way, the prettiest maternity and nursing bras are from Cake Lingerie and Hot Milk Lingerie.
My best pregnancy advice – chewing gum cures heartburn! (I never had heartburn until I was pregnant, and I’ve rarely had it since.)
My best new mom advice – everyone works better on a sleep schedule (do you know the 7 minute rule?), wear your baby often (any kind of sling) and learn to swaddle.
You are going to be one fashionable mama!
Love the dresses. In my awkward stage (which was late winter) I wore leggings only with shirts that glided over my belly but were still somewhat fitted. Also, Lulu had some tops with ruching on the sides that fit really well for the first 4 months or so.
I can’t wait until you have a nice little belly going!!!!! It will be here before you know it.
You are the cutest pregnant lady ever. I really don’t think you should worry about it! Plus this is such a short phase, soon you will be in full bloom, then it will all be over! Just enjoy every step of the process, which I think you are already doing. You are right if you feel great you look great, so just remember, that you DO look great!
If you plan to nurse, buy more flowy shirts than empire-waisted ones! Your girls will be ENORMOUS and empire-waists will become your nemesis!
Also, have yourself fitted for, and then purchase, some really high-quality bras that are still cute but supportive, too – my favorites were Chantelle. Then have a seamstress add nursing clips/straps to them. This is 2000% better than buying a nursing bra!
GREAT tip: Regarding my limbo phase, the book suggests sticking to baggier and loose-fitting options until my bump is 100% obvious –they say around 19 weeks but the rate I’m going it may be sooner
I love this post! I’m not preggers by my sister was recently and she was more willing to invest in some great flattering, comfy clothes when she started showing but not too too much. She ended up wearing a lot of those after she gave birth too while losing the baby weight.
It has to be exciting that it’s starting to show, though! It makes it all the more real!! As a reader for a few years, I just have to say how happy I am for you and your husband. You definitely deserve this and I look forward to reading more about it! And all of those dresses you got are adorable. You really can’t go wrong with dresses, in my opinion 😀
Hmm I don’t have any tips from personal experience but I’ve seen some cute tips from other people and I used to work at baby Gap! I think you’re totally right on buying dresses and empire waist shirts. Wrap dresses are really cute too. One thing too is to get open flowy cardigans (the kind without the buttons, I’m not sure what they are called!) and then you’ll be able to wear them after the baby is born. I would probably wear a ton of scarves (but I know you don’t like those!) You could get a bella band if your pants start to feel uncomfortable – I’ve had friends that have loved it and friends that have hated it. I hope that helps! I’m going to store all your tips in the back of my head for when I need them someday 🙂
I just got one of those tanks from Target last week and I really like it. I was thinking about getting a few more. I think they’re great!
Those dresses will be perfect for nursing too. I lived in dresses for 5 weeks after giving birth because I couldn’t handle having a seam “down there”. So, you’ll be back in those dresses right after probably, so lots of use for them 🙂
You have the cutest clothes! I love them!
just saw you comment to another person you got your dress at Buff Exchange. I have an AWESOME Buff Exchange by me and go in there all the time…seriously can find some amazing things that I’m always like why would someone get rid of this? lol
For being pregnant, that’s gotta be a score for you…I didnt know about it when I was preggers.
I cannot say enough about Be Present pants. Drawstring. Lightweight. Washable in a snap. They are a tad pricey but they are amazing…I wore them pregnant, not pregnant, in the heat, cold, traveling, at home, they’re my staple.
And your bump in the footlong stage…lol and I remember those days too 🙂
I hated that inbetween pregnancy stage where you look more like you have a spare tire around the waist then pregnant! I’m 16.5 weeks and my belly just recently popped. I got my first “are you expecting?” comment from a stranger so I knew I actually looked pregnant instead of just bloated or fat. You’re almost there, hang in there!!
I also used dresses and empire tops during the beginning of my most recent pregnancy. My bump didn’t become “obvious” until around 15-16weeks (with twins); before that, maternity clothes just made me look odd. I did use the belly bands to extend the life of my regular pants for a bit longer also.
Those tanks are cute — I think I’m going to have to get a couple, to cover my post-babies “footlong” bump. (But can I really call it a bump anymore, hehe!)
You’ll look wonderful in anything!
Luckily it’s summer, so dresses are perfect! As long as you feel great, you’ll great- don’t even fret!
You are seriously the cutest thing! I can’t wait to follow your blog all throughout your pregnancy.
where did you get that purple-ish dress (or is it blue?)? It’s the third pic down from the top… I LOVE IT!!!
Summer to me means dress weather and what perfect timing for you! You look great in anything, though! 😉
So glad you got the shirts! I am wearing one now and LOVE them! You will feel much more comfortable once the bump is obvious. I finally feel cute and pregnant. 🙂
Great tips! I remember my sister definitely had a hard time in tht “in between” stage with her belly. You make it look so good!
Oooo I looovee your jacket in the second picture (with the tan dress). Where did you get that beauty!? I must know 🙂 I have been looking for a light jacket/blazer to wear with my dresses for ages now and you nailed it.
I love those dresses! My favorite prego clothing item was a pair of dark salmon cordoroy maternity pants… they were a slight flare but had a thingymagig to make them into cute capris…they were the most comfy EVER!
All those dresses you have are perfect for these early stages of pregnancy! And you’re rocking them even harder now that you have that preggo glow. 😉
ahh the power of the kindle: instant gratification. i love that thing! you are going to be so cute in anything 🙂 is it weird that when i look at some of my dresses i’m like “oh i can’t ever get rid of this one, it’ll look so cute when i’m pregnant!”. nowhere near being preggo soon, nothing wrong with a little planning 😉
Untucked shirts, and use a rubberband on pants that have a button and button hole! Gives you a little bit more wear now and just after baby! You will need your current clothes just after baby too, you don’t fit back into your OLD clothes for a little bit!
You look wonderful Gina!
Hey girl! You are definitely in what I consider the most uncomfortable time during the pregancy in terms of body changes and clothing. I remember just feeling “thick” at that point. I definitely didn’t have a bump and was surprised to find that my whole midsection was getting bigger. I loved getting bigger and actually having a clearly indentifiable bump.
You’re lucky to live in a warm weather state- dresses will be your friend! 🙂 I hated jeans and pants at any point in my pregnancy. My favorite look for warm weather was to wear fitted tank tops. It seems crazy, but I actually felt like they were slimming. I would pair them with work out shorts if I was just hanging out or cotton skirts or comfy shorts(from old navy). Here were my favorites:
http://www.destinationmaternity.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=17231Z10010&MasterCategory_Id=MC2
I also loved wearing little cardigans, but it’s pretty hot in Phoenix.
Or I should say Tuscon! I recently lived in Phoenix so it must be on my mind!
Oh my goodness!!!! I haven’t been in the blogger world in a while and I’m so behind! Your preggers?! AHHHH! CONGRATS!!! I can’t wait to watch your belly grow!! And I love that you research prego fashions!
You look adorable! As far as advice, a belly band is a great investment. Also, if you plan on nursing, look for tops/dresses that can be easily pulled down (the first and third dresses you posted look great for nursing), so you’ll be able to wear them now and post-pregnancy. There’s a great non-maternity Mossimo tank at Target right now that is an empire waist and has the same chest design as the 3rd dress, so it will be great for nursing. I also love the long maternity tanks at Target!
I forgot to say that some H&Ms have cute maternity (and kids’ clothes!), too!
Those dresses are super cute! I especially love the third purple-grey (?) One. Where’s it from?
I wrote a similar post earlier this week about being in this in-between phase… I call it Pregnancy Purgatory. So happy, though, that there are so many empire-waisted and flowy options this summer!
it’s from loft 🙂
I have a friend who wore an empire waist top one day to a church event, and an older lady asked her when she was due. My friend (NOT PREGNANT) told the lady she wasn’t, and the woman said, “Oh, I just can’t get used to these maternity tops being in fashion these days.” My friend made a vow then and there NOT to wear the shirt again.
Those workout tanks were so cute! I want to get some when I’m pregnant again. These were all good tips on feeling cute while pregnant. I liked all the dresses!
I stuck to the rule of buying looser clothes I could wear post-baby for the first trimester. However, now that I’m in the second, and my bump is very big, I’ve purchased maternity t-shirts (mostly from GAP- GAP maternity stores are in the back of select Baby Gap stores). These shirts hug my stomach and make me feel like a cute pregnant lady, instead of just a lady w/ a big stomach (which is what I felt like in the looser fitting shirts). I wish I’d bought these shirts sooner! The size small shirts actually hug the bump as opposed to all the size small t-shirts at Old Navy which were very loose and seemed to be more suitable for the third trimester. I also made a trip to Cotton Babies this week (week 22) to buy a Bella Band so I can still wear all of my pants, shorts, and skirts- just unbuttoned. It’s sooo much more comfortable than wearing them zipped or doing the ‘rubber band trick.’ I also wish I’d bought this sooner!
I agree with that sentiment – “if you feel good you’ll look good” – and not just for pregnancy either, always. Love all your dresses, and empire cut athletic tops – they’re lovely! You’re looking great 🙂 xyx
http://www.eosbuy.com/fashion/pink-tartan-womens-knit-shift-dress-p-35.html
anybody give me about this suit idea? thanks
Oh goodness, are you cute or what? Those sound like great preggo fashion tips! I don’t have any to offer from experience, but I always think it is so cute when ladies with babies on board wear leggings with a flowy top. It plays up the bump I think 🙂 you can see they are in great shape while pregnant! And that is totally you!
Dresses are def the most comfortable, and i agree the workout clothes are tricky – but i actually feel more comfortable in snug fitting tops – even though i am not totally showing yet (21 weeks and waiting:) I feel fat in the flowy ones, but could be because i am short, ha ha. I say rock the belly and don’t be too anxious to ‘show’ you will have plenty of time:)
You look adorable in EVERYTHING! Love the fashion tips and that book looks fun!
I freaking love those tanks! I’m not with child either but they are so comfortable and flattering, not to mention the most supportive and non-itchy material I have ever worn for workout clothes. Thumbs up 🙂
Can totally relate about the eating non-gf bread. 😉 hahaa
i think i first heard that from you? hahah